Thermostatic circuit closer



J. H. SCHARFF THERMOSTATIC CIRCUI T CLOSER OrgnalvFiled July 29. 191.8 2 SheeS-She l rf l l/lx' l0 l0 l 5 4 @[245 @x5 44' l l i g4? @/q 48 21;

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Patented Dec, 23, l924,

JOSEPH B'. SCHARFE, 0F NUTLEY, NEW JERSEY.

THMMQSTATIC ClERCUT CLOSER.

Application iled July 29, wie, Serial No; 247,279. Rene-wed November 8, 1923.

To all whom 2715 may @0f/wem:

Be it known that ll, JOSEPH ll-ll. Sonenrr, a citizen of the United States, residing at Nutley, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in rllhermostatic Circuit Closers; and ll do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertainsto make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to characters of reference' marked thereon, which form a part of this specification,

My 4invention relates to improvements in fire alarm systems and more particularly to systems of the pneumatic-compensating type, and the object has been to produce such a system, and a detector therefor, which' shall possess great reliability and certainty of operatiombeing so designed as to possess effective means for preventing the sending offalse alarms, while, at the same time, assuring an immediate alarm in all cases where true lire conditions occur.,

Pneumatic-compensating fire-alarm systems heretofore in general use have included a long metallic tube which extended throughout the area to be protected, one end of the tube generally being closed and the other end connected with an indicator l"element in the form of a dexible diaphragm having a movable. contact adapted to complete an electric alarm circuit upon suicient increase of air pressure inside the tubing. l'lhese systems have also been provided with a leak isposed adjacent the diaphragm for the purpose of permitting air to be taken into or discharged' from the s stem toxequalv izo air pressure upon slow c anges in temperature such as ordmarily occur.

These systems are readily adaptedto send in re alarms upon an increase in temperature in theprotected area above apredetermined rate, say three and one-half degrees a minute. But these s stems have been found /to be extremely sensitive in that alarms are given every time the temperature rise is above the predetermined rate, irres ective of Whether 'this rise' is occasioned y fire conditions or by some tem orary event introducing no fire risk. uch temporary Yconditions cannot be avoided inindustrial plants, such, for example, as forge shops and foundries, in boiler rooms, etc., where a lsudden rise in temperature continues for only a short time but at asuciently high rate to actuate the diaphragm. lhis results in sending in a false alarm, and the recurrence of these false alarms tends to destroy confidence in an installation. 'lhe frequency of these false alarms has to some extent hindered'the commercial development of a system which, under proper operating conditions, will unfailingly send in an alarm whenever lire conditions bring about a continued increase in temperature.

ll have found that the sending in of these false alarms is caused by the inability of simple leak, even when properly adjusted for hre conditions, to permit the escape of expanded air caused by such temporary rises in temperature as must beexpected in many `locations The inter-relations between the leak and diaphragm are so critical that 'the systems heretofore available have been incapable of always discriminatf ing between rises in temperature caused by fire conditions and those caused by temporary conditions, and have almost invariably sent in alarms when the rate of temperature rise is above that predetermined by the adjustment of the leak.

The present invention is directed to the provision of an improved/pneumatic-com-- pensating fire-alarm system which is provided with suitable means for absorbing the temporary or suddenk air movements which are caused when there is no fire risk, 'lhe invention contemplates an improved method of controlling the air pressure brought about by rises in temperature `1nd indicatingand announcing only those movements which are indicative of :fire conditions.

llt also -has been found inpractice that frequently fshock impulses are sent through` the tubing employed with pneumatic fire-alarm systems, arising from what may be considered the usual normal and natural temperature changes, such, for

example, as occur above banks of steamthe fact that water may form in the tubing, such collection of water preventing in the tubing the natural and unrestricted expansion of the air in such tubing, so that when water so formed is located in certain places, slight temperature changes tend to produce false alarms.

With this in view, I provide the airintakeor intakes of the detector-device with means through which the air which is taken into the system has to pass through a hygroscopic material, so that the air taken into the system will be dry; and, furthermore, to provide in connection with said intake or intakes means which will prevent dust from entering and clogging the intake or leak ducts or the tubing.

Other objects of the present invention not at this time ,more particularly enumerated will be more fully understood from the following detailed description of the present invention.

With these various objects in view, andy to produce entirely new physical and mechanical effects, my present invention consists, primarily, in the novel fire or temperature alarm-s stem and detector therefor and hereina ter more fully set forth; and, the said invention consists, furthermore, in the novel arrangements and combinations of the several devices and parts, as Well as in the details of the construetion of the said arts, all of which will be more fully descrlbed in the following specification, and then finally embodied 1n the clauses of the claims which are appended to thesai'd specification and form an essential part of the same.

One of the many possible embodiments of the present fire alarm system and of certain of the devices for use therein, is shown, for purposes of illustration, in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a view showing diagrammatically a fire-alarm system of the pneumatic type and novel detector therefor, the same illustrating one embodiment of the principles of the present invention; Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on line '-2-2 in said'Figure 1, looking, toward the preferably provided with oppositely placed and outwardly bowed bearing portions, as (i and 7. The said standards or frame-members 4 and 5 are usually connected by means of suitably disposed screws 8, 9 and 10 for compensating and regulating to any desired degree the space 11 between the said meinbers. This adjustment is readily made by properly tightening or loosening, as the case requires, the screws 9 an-d 10. It will be noted that the screw 10 is threaded into the right-hand frame member 5, and enters into a' hole in the left-hand member 4. This screw may be used to force the members away from one another, while the screw 9, which is threaded into the left-hand member may be used to tighten the members in place. The said members` 4 and 5, as will be seen from an inspection of said Figure 3 of the drawings, are provided with oppositely located receiving portions 12 and 13, respectively', in which are disposed suitably formed sleeves, as 14 and 15, said sleeves being made of'insulating material, so that at all times the two standards or `frame-members will be 'electrically disconnected from devices mounted on the sleeve, as will be clearly evident.

Suitably disposed in the respective insulators o1- sleeves 14 and 15 are tube-like elements, as 16 and 17, provided with discs 18 and 19 respectively, the respective discs carrying suitable diaphragms, as 2() and 21, which are provided with suitable and oppositely disposed contacts 22 and 23, substantially as shown. The outer or opposite end-portions of the tubes 16 and 17 extend from the respective insulators 14 and are here shown as being screw-threaded, as at 24 and 25, for securing the parts in their assembled relations by means of the washers or discs 2G and 27 and the tightening nuts 28 and 29 screwed upon the respective screwthreaded portions 24 and 25 of said tubelike elements 1G and 17.

These tubes are each to be connected to an end of the tubing which extends throughout the protected area. V.One of the forms of construction suitable for the purposes of the present invention will now be described.

As sho-wn, the end-portions of the respective elements 16 and 17 projecting slightly beyond the outer faces of the respective nuts 218 and 29 are internally screw-threaded, as at 30 and 31 for the reception of the screwthreaded Shanks of a pair of screws, as 32 and 33, said screws being formed with annular grooves 34 and longitudinally extending slotsfor channels 35, all arranged as shown in saidlfigure'f of the drawings,'and for the purposes to be presently more fully set forth. Suitably disposed upon each screw 32 and 3B are apair oi insulating packing sleeves, as 36 and 37, for insulatively mounting the devices 38, which needles connect the respective tubes G and i7 with the shock-absorbing and breather devices to be described. l

As here shown, each device 38 comprises a main body 39 formed with a laterally eX- tending opening 40 by means ot which said devices are fitted upon said sleeves 36 and 37 and are iirmly secured in their operative positions thereon -by means of the hereinabove mentioned screws 32 and 33. As shown, the lower portion oteach body 39 has a. small duct or passage-way, as ll, leading troni the annular groove 3d to the lower end-portion of said body providing intakes through which the air is breathed or taken in to tillthe pneumatic tubing ot the system, normally, with air under atmospheric pressure. That the taken-in air may be ktree trom dust-and moisture,v (the air owing to atmospheric conditions at various Ytimes containing more or less dust and moisture,) chambered devices, as 42, may be employed, substantially'in a manner as represented in Figure l ot the. drawings, each device being provided with-a suitable material., as d2", through which the air has to pass and dust and moisture removed therefrom.. ln its upper portion, each body 39. is also provided with another duct or passageway, as d3,.also leading from the annular groove 34C in an upward direction and terminating in the upper/lend-portion ot said body 39, and communicating with a shell or casing, as ei-l, of the proper length; said chamber being 5 closed at its upper end by means of a cap e5,

or other suitable means, to provide a pro-per shock-absorbing or relief chamber de. ln 'communication with the duct or passageway i3 of each body 39, is a laterally extending inlet duct Il?, and suitably connected with said ducts d? are the respective ends et a.

pneumatic tubing d3, of a tire-alarm system.v or temperature-indicator, substantially as shown -in lligures l and 3 ot the drawings.

'llhe opening between the relief chamber i6 and the lpassageway l3is considerably larger than the slots or channels 35 intermediate the passageway 4:3 and the diaphragm. ln this way the in-coming air brought about by increase ont volume oi air in the tubing i8 is directed more easily into the shock-absorbing chambers and is to a slight extent hindered in, exerting pressure on the diaphragms..`

As shown in said Figure l, there is electrically connected with the ycomplete dedector-device l, by' means of circuit-wires d@ and 50, an alarm-indicator, as 5l, electric current being supplied by means ot a source of electrical energy,as a battery 52, and the circuit being closed when contact is made by the contact-points 22 and 23, of the respective diaphragme 20 and 2l, when they become act-ive due to an expansion of the air to the desired degree in the tubing 48.

Under normal conditions where the 'temperature 1s undergoing the usual changes,

,the air inside the tubing is maintained at with suitable material to strain out dust andv to absorb moisture so that there is no possibility ot dust vor moisture entering into the inside of the system where it has heretotore been found to accumulate and cause trouble by clogging the narrow passages in the system.

Under tire conditions the air in the tubing is heated rapidly and the only enit `for the at increased pressure is through the vents. These vents or leaks are so small that the heated air created by lire conditions is held back ot the vents, thereby rapidly increasing the pressure inside the system. This increase in pressure occurs throughout the piping, the relieiE chambers, and b'aclr oi' the diaphragme, expanding or bulging there. so as to maire contact and send in an alarm. providing two diaphragms which are adapted to move toward one another it will be noted that the contact can be made more quickly would be possible with a single diaphragm. Should the tubing be accidentally opened to the outside air, as by break in the tubing or a leak, each side of 'the detector would then be connected to a length oi small diameterl tubing having anv enen Under lire conditions the air in iis tubing would be heated and, 'in endeavuring to escape 'through the open end' of the tubing, would necessarily build up considerable pressure to overcome the itrictional resistance to movement otl the air along the tubing. This built up pressure is certain to actuate the alarm, it the longer length of tubing, or both'lenc'ths, are in the fire Zone. liilrewise, should the tubing, for any reason, be closed, there would be no dead end exposed to the -lire. 'lhe system could then operate in the same manner as the systems having a single diaphragm and tube with closed end.` From the foregoing will therefore be apparent that, under lire conditions, the present system has increased reliability of operation, due to the duplication oct pressure responsivesdevces or diaphragms.

Temporary shoclr conditions may occur in the protected area 'for various reasons. The air in a portion ol the tubing may be rapidly heated, as lor example, by a 'forge lire,

the opening of a furnace door, or the turnp ing cn oic steam to heat a cold building. Vlhese sudden increases in temperature about a portion ot the 'tubing will, ot course, aittect the air inside the tubing, causing it to suddenly expand. This expansion oit air lll@ in the tubing istransmitted toward the ends of the tubing, building up pressure all along the line. The increase in pressure, however, caused by these sudden temporary shocks is not permitted to reach the diaphragms. Instead of reaching the diaphragms it is dissipated in the relief or shock-absorbing means, which may be provided by interposing into the system chambers of suitable size to absorb shocks of a predetermined value. The size of these chambers will depend upon the length of the tubing which is used in the installation, the capacity of the vents, the sensitiveness of the diaphragms, and the character ofshocks which are expected. They may be located, as indicated in the drawings, immediately adjacent the leak devices or elsewhere in the sy-stem if desired, the former, however, `being in general, a

more convenient location for the chambers.`

The provision of shock-absorbing meansA reduces the likelihood of false-alarms from industrial shock heats of sudden rates of temperature rise, occurring at any part of the tubing circuit. The pressure generated by the accidental heat expands into the entire tubing system including` the additional space provided by the relief chambers. The resulting pressure is correspondingly less than it would have been without the relief chambers.

The use of a pair of opposed diaphragms permits the making of contact only when the sum of the individual pressures on each diaphragm equals or exceeds a set value. This construction reduces the likelihood of false ralarms from industrial shock heats, particularly those occurring near o-ne end of the tubing system. The pressure thusk established will bulge the adjacent diaphragm at once, but before it can be communicated through the tubing system to the other diaphragm the pressure becomes reduced both on account of being absorbed by the capacity of the whole tubing circuit, and also by loss through the vents. By the time the distant diaphragm becomes affected, the total pressure on the two diaphragms has been reduced and may now be so low that the diaphragms remain out of contact with each other. Thus a pressure which at the. beginning was ,large enough to affectL the adjacent diaphragm appreciably, may not cause a fire alarm. This design also tends to suppress false alarms from industrial heating resulting in low rates of rise of temperature, as Well as `.shock heats, particularly those occurring near one end of the tubing system, for the same reasons as above described.` They use of the opposed diaphragms also results in a large break distance between diaphragms, and a mo-re rapid breaking of the circuit as the pressure falls off in each diaphragm; both effects tending to improve the switching performance of the diaphragm Contact points.

It is obvious that in event of a iire the sounding of a fire alarm will not occur until the fire has reached such proportions as to produce greater pressures in the tubing systems than those arising from industrial heats for which the system has previously been adjusted. This delay, however, is not of long duration, being only a few seconds, which is of no practical consequence in obtaining the actual lire alarm.

It is obvious that my invention may be embodied in many forms and constructions, and I Wish it specifically understood that the particular form shown is but one of the many forms which may be used. Various modifications and changes 'being possible, and possibly advantageous, I do not limit myself in any way with respect thereto.

I claim l. In a lire-alarm system, tubing extending throughout an area to be protected, an electrical contact-establishing means connected with the tubing of the system so as to close contact 4upon an increase in air pressure, breather-means for conveying air normally under atmospheric pressure into said system, a relief chamber, and means for conveying expanded air from the tubing into the relief chamber, said relief chamber being adapted to relieve abnormal fluctuations of pressure in said tubing without actuating said electrical contact-establishing means.

2. In a fire-alarm system, tubing extending throughout an area to be protected, an electrical contact-establishing means connected with the tubing of the system so as to close contact upon an increase in air pressure, breather-means for conveying air normally under atmospheric pressure into said system, and a relief chamber communicating with the tubing, said relief chamber being adapted to relieve abnormal fluctuations of pressure in said tubing without actuating said electrical contact-establishing means.

3. In a fire-alarm system, tubing extending throughout an area to be protected, an electrical contact-establishing means conneet-ed with the tubing of the system so as to close contac-t upon an increase in air pressure, breather-means for conveying air normally under atmospheric pressure into said system, and a relief chamber communicating with the tubing adjacent the electrical contact-establishing means, said relief chamberbeing adapted to relieve abnormal fluctuations of pressure in said tubing without actuating said electrical contact-establishing means.

4. Ih a fire-alarm system, tubing extending throughout an area to be protected, and a detector having an inlet connected to an reacties passage leading from said inlet, avent tor vconveying air normally under atmospheric (iii pressure into said passage, a relief chamber communicating with said passage torl absorbing shocks produced by temporary or sudden expansions ot air in said syst/em, and :tor retaining the expanded air until it is dissipated through said vent, said passage also leading to a device responsive to pressures in excess of the absorbing capacity oit the reliefl chamber, and an electrical contact operable by the device.

5. ln a fire-alarm system, tubing extend-V ing throughout an area to be protected, and a detector having two inlets, each connected with an opposite end of the tubing ot the system, an air passage leading from each inlet, two vents for conveying air normally under atmospheric pressure into said passages, relief chambers each communicating with one ot said passages for separately absorbing shocks produced by temporary or sudden expansions of air in said system, and for retaining the expanded air until it is dissipated through said vents, each ot said passages also leading to a device spaced from the other' device, said devices being responsive to pressures in excess oit the absorbing capacity of the corresponding reliet chamber, and an electrica-l contact operable by the devices.

6. ln a fire-alarm system, or the like, the combination with a pneumatically-operated circuit-controlling means provided with an inlet, and a pneumatic tire-detecting element comprising a relatively long air-filled tube of small diameter, of a reliet chamber interposed between said detecting element and said inlet, of capacity to receive expanded air due to temporary abnormal fluctuations of temperature and retard transmission of pressure therefrom to the circuit-controlling means until a sufiicient increase of temperature has existed yifcr a sufficient time to produce a predetermined normal working pressure in said pneumatically-operated ,circuit-controlling means. 7. "ln a fire-alarm system, or the like, a pneumatically operated contact-establishing means, combined with independent reliet means adapted to receive expanded air caused by temporary or sudden shock-con-v ditions to prevent operation of the contactestablishingL means, except at predetermined degrees of expansion.

8. ln a fire-alarm system, or the like, a pneumatieally operated contact-establishing means, and a vent adapted to dissipate expanded air, combined with independent relietl means adapted to receive expanded air caused by temporary or sudden, shock conditions to prevent operation of the contact-establishing means except at predertermined degrees of expansion.

9. lin a rire-alarm system, tubing extending throughoutf the area to be protected, electrical contact-establishing means connected with the tubing to make contact upon increase of pressure therein, breather means having a restricted leak for conveying air under atmospheric pressure into or out oit the tubing, and shock-absorbing means connected with the tubing and of a capacity in proportion to the capacity of the tubing to absorb shocks below a predetermined value whereby the electrical contact-establishing means is unaffected.

l0. ln a lire-alarm system, tubing extended throughout the area to be protected, a leal( duct or vent for the tubing, a device connected with the tubing, an electrical circuit adapted to be closed by movement of the device produced by increase in air pressure, and shock-absorbing means associated with the tubing, said shock-absorbing means being adapted to absorb sudden or temporary shocks excess ciB the capacity the vent and thereby prevent the buildnp of a resulting pressure bach of the device to close the circuit.

il Tn hre-alarm system, tubing extending throughout ene area to be protected, contact carrying diaphragms each connected to an end of the tubing, the diaphragme being so juxtaposed that the contmts are Anfioved toward one another upon expansions or either diaphragm wherebypthe spacing of the contacts is an inverse i'nnction the et the pressures exerted on the diaphragme, a vent associated with each diaphragm to permit the air pressure bach of the diaphragm to become atmospheric independent oit the pressure bach oi the other diaphragm.

l2. ln a lire-alarm system, tubing extendlil@ ing throughout the area to be protected,- f

contact carrying diphragms each connected to an endI of the tubing, the diaphragms being so juxtaposed that the contacts are moved toward one another upon expansion of either diaphragm whereby the spacing ci the contacts is an inverse function et the sum ot' the Vpressures exerted onthe diaphragms, a vent associated withv each diaphragm to permit the air pressure bachi ot the `diaphragm to become atmospheric independent oit the pressure bach 'ot the other diaphragm, and shoclr absorbing ieans adapted to absorb sudden or temporary shocks in yexcess of the capacity of the vents and thereby. prevent the building up orE a resulting m-ressurebach of the diaphragme to close the circuit.

13, in a nre-alarm system, tubing extend-, throughout the area to be protected, contact carrying diaphragms each connected to an end of the tubing, the diaphragms being so juxtaposed that the contacts are moved lll@ v the contacts is an inverse function of the,

either diaphragm whereby the spacing of sum of the pressures exerted on the diaphragms, a vent associated With each diaphragm to permit the air pressure back of the diaphragm to become atmospheric independent of the pressure back of the other diaphragm, and means associated With each vent for preventing foreign matter from entering the system. K,

14. ln a tire-alarm system, tubing extending throughout an area to be protected, and a detector having tWo inlets, each connected with an opposite-end of the tubing of the system, an air passage leading from each inlet, breather-means for conveying air, nor- Inally under atmospheric pressure, to each of said passages, said breather-means .including chambers and means therein to prevent foreign matter from entering the. system, each of said passages also leading to a diaphragm spaced from the other diaphragm.

l5. In a ing throughout an area to be protected, and

a detector having an inlet connected to an end of the tubing of the system, an air pas-` sage leading from said inlet, breather-means for conveying air, normally under atmospheric pressure, to said passage, said breather-means including a chamber and means therein to prevent foreign matter from entering the system, said passage also leading to a diaphragm, and an electrical contact operable by the diaphragm.

16. In a detector for ire-alarm systems, or the like, in combination, an electrical contact-establishing means provided with an inlet connectible with the tubing of the system so as to be operable by air-pressure, means for conveying expanded air to the same, and a relief chamber interposed between said inlet and said air-conveying means, said relief chamber being adapted to relieve abnormal fluctuations of pressure 1n said air-conveymg means.r

17. In a detector for lire-alarm systems,--

or the like,'in combination, a pair of oppositely placed contact-making diaphragms, means for leading expanded air against said diaphragms, and means comprising shockabsorbing chambers connected with said airconveying means,-

said chambers being adapted to receive expanded air caused by temporary or sudden shock-conditions.

18. A detector for fire-alarm systems, or the like, comprising a frame, a pair of oppositely placed diaphragms mounted on said frame, said diaphragms being providedwith oppositely disposed contacts, and means for leading expanded air against said dia phragrns so as to expand the same.

19. A detector for tire-alarm systems, or

the like, comprising a frame, a pair of oppo-, sitely placed diaphragms mounted on said fire-alarm system, tubing extend-y frame, said diaphragms being provided with oppositely disposed contacts, means for leading expanded air against said diaphragms so as to expand the same, and shock-absorbing chambers connected with -said means for leadingV the expanded air to said diaphragms.

20. A detector for tire-alarm systems, or the like, comprising a frame, a pair ot' oppositely placed diaphragms mounted on said frame, said diaphragme being provided with oppositely disposed contacts, means for leading expanded air against said diaphragms so as to expand the same, and shock-absorbing and air-equalizing means connected with said means for leading the expanded air to said diaphragms, comprising a member having a passage con'imunicating with the airleading means, and a chambered shell connected with each member, each member bcing provided with a fixed vent.

21. A detector for lire-alarm systems, or the like, comprising a frame providedwith two oppositely disposed bearing-portions, insulating sleeves mounted in said bearingportion, tubes mountedin said sleeves, flexible diaphragms mounted upon the oppositely disposed end-portions of each et said tubes, said diaphragms being provided with oppositely disposed contacts, shock-absorbing and air-equalizing means associated with the tubes, and means for leading air into said shock-absorbing means.

22. A detector for lire-alarm systems, or the like, comprising a `frame provided with two oppositely disposed bearing-portions, insulating sleeves mounted inv said bearingportions, tubes mounted in said sleeves, ilexible diaphragme mounted upon the oppositely disposed end-portions ot each et' said tubes, said diaphragms being provided with oppositely disposed contacts, shock-absorbing and air-equalizing means associated with the tubes, comprising a member having a passa-ge communicating with each tube, a chambered shell connected with each member, each member being also provided with a vent, and means for leading air into each member and the associated shell.

23. A detector for fire-alarm systems, or the like, comprising a pair of frame-members, means for connecting the same, said frame-members being provided with bearing-portions, insulating sleeves mounted iu said bearing-portions, tube-like elements mounted in said sleeves, flexible diaphragms mounted upon the oppositely disposed endportions of said tube-like elements, said diaphragms being provided with oppositcly disposed contacts, screws connected with aud extending from the opposite end-portions of said tube-like elements, said screws beingr provided With annular grooves and longisaid annular grooves into the tubular por- 4connected with each body, each body bei tions of saidtiibe-like elements, air-equaliz# ing means mounted upon each screw and in communication with the groovesand channels of said screws, and means for leading air into said equalizing means.

24. A detector for fire.-alarm systems, or the like, comprising a pair of frame-members, means .for connecting the same, said frame-members being provided with bearing-portions, insulating sleeves mounted in said bearing-portions, tube-like elements mounted in said sleeves, flexible diaphragme mounted upon "the oppositely disposed end-` portions of said tube-like elements, said diaphragms being provided with oppositely disposed contacts, screws connected with and extending,r from the other end-portions oiQ said tube-like elements, said screws being provided with annular groves and longr tudinally extending ,channels leading from said annular .grooves into the tubular portions o'f said 'tube-like elements, shock-absorbing' and air-equalizing means, comprising a tubular body mounted upon each screvv and in communication v "thL 'the grooves or channels ot' said screws, a. chambered shell also provided with a. leal-ducb or ve and means yfor leading air into each tabu-`r body and the chambered shells thereof,

25, A detector for lire-alarm systems, or the like, comprising'a Jlrame, an electrical contact-establishing means, a tube mounted in said iframe, a dexible diaphragm mounted upon said cube and connected to said electrical contact-establishing means, means jfor leading expanded air into said tube, and a shock-absorbing1 and air-equalizing means in communication with said tube and said air-leading means.

26. A detecor for lire-alarm systems, or

the like, comprising a. frame, an electrical.

contact-establishing means, a tube mounted in said Jrame, a flexible diaphragm mourra ed upon said 'tube and connected 'to said electrical contact-establishing means, means for leading expanded air into said 'tube-like element, and an air-equalizing means comprising a member having a passage comi municating with said tube, and a moisture extracting1 means connected with said member.

, 27. lln a detector for realarm systems or the like, in. combination, an electrical contact-establishing means, means iter conveying expanded air to the same, means comprising a shock-absorbing chamber in com-1 munication With said air-conveying means, said chamber being adapted to receive .rexpanded air caused by temporary or sudden shock-conditions, and breather-means `for conveying air, normally, underatrnospheric 'pressure to said means for conveying such expanded air.

28. ln a detector 'for fire-alarm systems,

air against said readies W or the like, in combination, a pair of oppositely placed contact-making diaphragms, means for leading expanded air against said diaphragms, means comprising shock-absorbing chambers in communication With said air-conveying means, said chambers being adapted to receive expanded air caused by temporary or sudden shock-conditions, and breathenmeans for conveying air, normally, under atmospheric pressure to said means orconveyingnr such expanded air.

29. ln a detector for -lire-alarm systems, or the like, in combination, a pair of oppositely placed contact-making diaphragms, means for leading,1 expanded air against the diaphragme, means for bodily moving' one of the diaphragme and the corresponding conveying means to adjust the spacing be- 'civeen the diaphragms, and means comprisshock-absorbing chambers connected with said air-conveying means, said chainbers beingJ adapted to receive expanded air caused by tempera y or sudden shock-condi tions..

30 l detector for lire-alarm systems, or the comprisi e," a frame, a pair ci oppositely placed di sid frame, saidi t with opposa/ely for bodily inovirf one or"J the diaphragnis to adjust 'the spacing" between the diaphragme, and means for leading exp nded aphragmsso as to expand itions, adjustable mc ing devices Ylor tne diap'hragms tio per r the bodily movement of Vthe diaphragms te the spmingv therebetween, and breather cans J4or conveying air, normally,

under aifiospheric pressure to each oi3 said means `for conveying` such expanded ain 82, A detector 'for pneumatic-compensatire-alarm syscems, havingI two inlets each 'connec f a an opposite end `the 4tubing@1 of die system, an air passage leading rorn each inlet, two vents for conveying air normally under atmospheric pressure in- 'to said passages, relief chambers each communieatingI with one of said passages ior separately absorbing,r shocks produced by temporary or sudden expansions of air in said syste-m, and for retaining the expanded -airuntil itI is dissipated through 'the vente, each of said passages also leading 4to a diaphragm spaced from the other .caused by temporary M lll@ llt)

J phragm, said diaphragms being responsive to pressures in excess ofthe absorbing capacity of the corresponding relief chamber, an electrical contact operable by the diaphragme, and mountings for the diaphragms to permit the adjustment of the spacing between the diaphragms.

A detector for lire-alarm systems, or the like, comprising a frame, a pair of oppositely placed dia-phrams mounted on said frame, saiddiaphragms `being provided with oppcsitely disposed conta-cts, means for leading expanded air against said diaphragm so as to expand the same, shock absorbing and air-equalizing means connected with said means for leading the expanded air to said diaphragms, comprising a member having a vpassage communicating with the tube, a chambered shell connected with each member, each member being provided with a fixed ,leak-duct or vent, a chamber surrounding each lealcluct or vent, and

means in the chamber for preventing fory eign matter from entering the system.

34,. In a detectorA for lire-alarm systems or the like, 1n combination, an electrical vconta-ct-establishing mea-ns, means for conveying expanded air to the same, means com prising a shock-absorbing chamber in communication with said air conveying means, said chamber being adapted to receive expanded air caused by temporary or sudden shock-conditions, and breather-means for conveying air, normally, under atmospheric pressure to said means for conveying such expanded air, said breathe-r-means including a chamber and means therein to prevent foreign matter entering the system.

35. A detector for pneumatiecompensating fire-alarm systems, having ariy inlet connectible Wit-h the tubing of the system, an air passage leading from said inlet, a vent for conveying air normally under atmospherio pressure into said passage, a relief chamber communicating with said-passage for absorbing shocks produced by temporary or sudden expansions of air in said system, and for retaining said expanded air until it is dissipated through said vent, said passage also leading to a diaphragm responsive to pressures in excess of the absorbing capacity of the relief chamber, an electrical contact operable by the diaphragm, a chamber surrounding eac-h vent, and means in the chamber for preventing foreign matter from entering the system.

36. A detector for pneumatic-compensating lire-alarm systems, having an inlet connectible with the tubing of the system, an air passage leading from said inlet, a vent for conveying air normally under atmospheric pressure into said passage, a relief chamber communicating-With said passa-ge for ab! sorbing shocks produced by temporary or sudden expansions of 4air in said system, and for retaining said expanded air until it is dissipated through said vent, said passage also leading to a diaphragm responsive to pressures in excess of the absorbing capacity of the relief chamber. said passage having a constriction between the diaphragm and the connection to the relief chamber., andan electrical contact operable by the diaphragm.

' ln testimony., that l cla-ini the invention set forth above I have hereunto set mi hand this 25th day of" July, 1918.

c JOSEPH SCHARFE liitnesses:

linnn H. FiniNTZE, EVA E. Dissent. 

